Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Atiqul Islam today said that the corporation will free Rupnagar from encroachment and open a new waterway from Mirpur Rupnagar to Turag soon.

The mayor made the remarks at the inaugural ceremony of road development projects held at the capital's Mirpur.

"Multiple canals and agricultural lands are being taken up illegally for the construction of multi-storey buildings. I personally inspected the canals. We will be reclaiming the canal with the help of the army," said the mayor.

Army engineers are currently determining the boundary of the Rupnagar canal and installing pillars. As part of this initiative, 11 bridges will be constructed to ensure smooth navigation along the waterway, he added.

"No legal notices will be issued to illegal occupants. Instead, we will demolish the illegal structures to reclaim the roads. The corporation will only mend roads that are at least 20 feet wide," he asserted.

State Minister for Industry Kamal Ahmed Majumder attended the event as special guest.